This is a running total of my start up costs in Japan. I came here with no job, no apartment etc. Ive been here four days and my money is flying. Just thought Id post for all those interested.

3 nights in a cheap hotel - 12,000 yen
3 months key money for apartment (one month returnable) - 96,000 yen
First 20 days of rent (moved in on the 10th, 20 days until rent collection) - 21,000 yen
Required apartment insurance - 6,000 yen
Deposit for gas company - 10,000 yen
Four days at about 3,000 yen per day living, traveling, job hunting costs - 12,000 yen
Total - 157,000 yen and I still dont have a phone or job

Ill update this total every few days. Ever gotten the feeling that youve made a huge mistake???

Is there any way you could start up some kind of running clock like that National Debt Clock in Times Square that continually rises so we can watch your decline into bum-dom in "real time"...?
I guess just make sure you leave enough money for a flight back to Korea if things get really sour or time consuming. Not ideal though I know. Good luck anyhow buddy.

Well, an hour of internet costs me 500 yen, so my costs are rising as I type. Also, in order to avoid problems at coustoms, I purchased an open ended return ticket on the boat. So if shit does hit the fan, I can at least get back to Korea where I can live for 5,000 won a day and get a job easier. Got to run. My hour is up and I have to call my landlord and adopted japanese father. They sure do move fast in this country...

Damn, I hate reading about moves to Japan... That's been one of the few things on my mind lately. I've noticed that a lot of the jobs there require you to be living there already, but aren't there SOME that help a bit more with getting things started? I realize that the hook-ups aren't quite the same as here (nor the desperation for waygook teachers), but still....

I had a couple acquaintances here go to Japan through a group/school (?) called David English House (in Hiroshima) a couple years back, and I seem to remember it being considerably less difficult than the OP's situation. Anyone else know of an easier way to make the move than dropping a couple mil in less than a week?